ID :
204202
Mon, 08/29/2011 - 14:20
Auther :

Mourners in Vic town face double tragedy


Jacinda Twigg's shattered family has laid the teenage plane crash victim to rest.
But they must now endure the heartbreak of a second funeral - for her mother, Julie-Anne, who died on Monday from injuries suffered in the same tragedy.
More than 400 people farewelled 15-year-old Jacinda at St Paul's Lutheran Church in the small Wimmera wheat town of Nhill.
She and Julie-Anne, a mother of four, were returning from Melbourne on an Angel Flight charity flight from what was hoped would be Jacinda's final treatment for juvenile arthritis.
The plane came down in a paddock at Wallup, about 20 minutes' from Nhill, on August 15.
Jacinda and volunteer pilot Don Kernot, 69, died at the scene. Julie-Ann, 43, suffered critical head and chest injuries and died at the Royal Melbourne Hospital just hours before the funeral.
Every seat was filled at the church in Nhill.
During the 75-minute service a eulogy was delivered by parish priest the Reverend Tim Ebbs, included uplifting hymns Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art and Hallelujah.
Residents in the town of 1900 knew Jacinda as "Dad's little shadow", he said.
Six pall bearers carried the white coffin from the church as the congregation sang the hymn The Lord is My Shepherd.
The funeral procession was led by a column of motorcycles, including a white Harley Davidson in front.
Jacinda's dad Len Twigg is a keen rider.
There has been an outpouring of grief, and of generosity, from Nhill since the crash.
The Twigg Family Appeal, set up by the local Hindmarsh Shire Council, which employs Mr Twigg, has raised thousands of dollars so far.
Nhill businesses and sporting groups have held fundraisers in Jacinda's memory.
Mr Twigg had asked mourners to donate to Angel Flight or the Royal Children's Hospital in lieu of flowers.



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